Trailer hitch



April 6, 1938. L. c. Gum-:Y 2,15,629

TRAILER HITCH Filed May 24, 1937 Nam...

Patented Apr. 26, 1938 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TBAILER. HITCH Lyle C. Gn-ley, Denver, Cola.

Application May 24, 1937, Serial No. 144521 1 claim. (Cl. %il-33.15)

This invention relates to trailer bitches and has for the primary object the provision of an efficent and inexpensive device of this character which will provide a quick detachable coupling between a trailer and an automobile and one which will permit free pivotal movement and will be self-locking when the detachable elements thereof are brought together.

With these and other objects in View, this ino vention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete Understanding of my invention,

15 reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a trailer hitch constructed in accordance with my invention.

2 Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the actuation of the hitch to release the separable elements thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the ball element of the hitch fltting in the socket 25 element and equipped with an anti-rattle device.

Flgure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectlonal view illustrating the hitch.

Figure 5 is a front view illustrating a locking element.

30 Figure 6 is a rear view illustrating the locking element.

Referring in detall to the drawing, the numeral l indicates a draft tongue to be connected in any well known manner to a trailer, 2 an attaching 35 bracket secured in any well known manner to an automobila. A coupler is employed for detachably connecting the draft tongue onto the bracket 2 and which will permit free pivotal movement of the draft tongue relative to the bracket. The

40 coupler is indicated generally by the character 3 and consists of a female element 4 secured in the tongue I and a male element 5 consisting of a shank 'I and a ball 8. The sharkfl is detachably secured on the bracket 2. A groove 9 is formed 5 in the ball 8 to receive a split ring o. The ring III when engaged with the female element of the coupler is to prevent rattling of the ball in' the female element.

The female element has a spherical shaped 50 socket ll which opens outwardly through the lower face of the female element in the form of a mouth |2 through which the ball 8 may pass freely to contact the walls of the socket ll. The female element also has formed therein an eccentric chamber |3 which communicates with the socket Il and journaled in the chamber !3 is a locking element or an eccentric I4 of semi-cylindrical shape presenting a fiat face |5 and formed in said face is a semi-spherical shaped recess IS. The locking element or eccentric !5 has formed therein a tapered groove l'l opposite the recess l6. A shoulder !8 is formed in the groove I'I. A plunger chamber !9 is formed in the female element and communicates with the eccentric cham- 10 ber l3 and also opens outwardly through the top wall of the female element. A spring pressed plunger 20 is mounted in the plunger chamber |9 and the stem 2| thereof projects above the top wall of the female element and has secured thereto a finger piece 22. The plunger is adapted to enter the groove ll of the eccentric for locking the same against pivotal movement and 'n a position to restrict the size of the mouth l2 of the socket ll with a portion of the ball lying within the recess IG. The ball is then locked in the socket ll and the female element is free to pivot on said ball or to have a universal movement relative thereto. To release the ball from the socket H the plunger 20 is pulled out of the groove I'I permitting the eccentric or locking element l4 to pivot as the female element is lifted off of the ball or male element 5. The eccentric or pivotal element !4 when freed for pivotal movement and the female element lifted upwardly with respect to the ball will cause the eccentric to move out of the mouth l2 and thereby permit the ball to pass freely through the mouth.

What is claimed is:

A trailer hitch comprising male and female elements and said male element including a ball, said female element having a substantially spherical shaped socket opening outwardly through a w'all thereof to provide a mouth for permitting the ball to enter the socket, an eccentric 40 locking element pivotally mounted in the female element for restricting the size of the mouth' and having a recess to receive a portion of the ball, said eccentric element'having a groove, said female element having a plunger chamber, a spring pressed plunger Operating in said chamber to enter the groove for securing the eccentric locking member against pivotal movement. said ball having a groove, and a split ring mounted in said groove to contact the walls of the socket of the female element and said eccentric locking element.

LYLE C. GURLEY. 

